إِسْوَةٌ
1.
and
أُسْوَةٌ (S, M, Mgh, Msb, K) and ↓, أَسْوَةٌ, mentioned by Er-Rághib in one of his works, (MF,) An example; an exemplar; a pattern; an object of imitation; a person by whom one takes example; synonym قُدْوَةٌ or قِدْوَةٌ; (S, M, Msb, K;) each a subst. from اِيتَسَى بِهِ; (Mgh;) i. e. مَا يُوءْتَسَى بِهِ: (TA:) explained by Er-Rághib as meaning the condition in which is a man in respect of another's imitating [him], whether good or bad, pleasing or hurtful: (TA:) also a thing [or person] by which one who is
in grief, or mourning, takes example, (S, K,) for the being consoled (لِلتَّعَزِّى) thereby: (S:) plural إِسًى and أُسًى; (S, K;) the former of the first singular, and the latter of the second. (TA.) The first of these meanings is intended in the saying, لِى فِي فُلَانٍ إِسْوَةٌ and أُسْوَةٌ [I have in such a one an example, &c.]. (S.) The saying, مَا سَوِى التُّرَابِ مِنَ الأَرْضِ إِسْوَةُ التُّرَابِ is tropical, meaning (tropical:) There is nothing but the dust of the earth, or ground, that follows the dust. (Mgh.)
2.
Also a verbal noun, [or rather a quasi-verbal noun,] synonym with اِيتِسَاءٌ [verbal noun of 8]. (TA.)